For an emergency in Costa Rica, call 911. Use it when urgent police, fire, rescue or medical help is needed. Do not delay an emergency call while searching for a local office number.
Essential contacts to save
| Service | Number | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency response | 911 | Urgent police, fire, rescue and medical assistance |
| National Poison Control Centre | 800-4686-9422 | 800-INTOXICA: specialist advice about suspected poisoning, available 24 hours |
| OIJ confidential information line | 800-8000-645 | Anonymous information relevant to criminal investigations; not emergency dispatch |
| INS accident reporting | 800-800-8000 | Contact for an applicable INS motor-insurance claim; follow your own insurer’s procedure |
| U.S. Embassy, main line | +506 2519-2000 | Consular assistance for U.S. citizens |
| U.S. Embassy, after-hours emergency | +506 2220-3127 | Urgent consular assistance; not a replacement for 911 |
Numbers beginning 800 are presented for use within Costa Rica. Save your own embassy, insurer and accommodation contacts as well. If a call does not connect, ask someone nearby or your accommodation to help contact the appropriate service.
Police, fire and ambulance: start with 911
The Costa Rican Red Cross identifies 9-1-1 as the emergency number and distinguishes it from its administrative telephone. This guide uses 911 rather than unverified legacy short codes for separate services.
Tell the operator where the emergency is, what happened and how many people need help. Give the location you know immediately; do not postpone calling while trying to collect perfect coordinates. Follow the operator’s questions and instructions.
If you need English assistance, say so promptly. Preparing your accommodation’s address and useful landmarks in advance can help communication, especially in an unfamiliar area.
Poisoning or chemical exposure
The CCSS publishes 800-INTOXICA, 800-4686-9422, as the National Poison Control Centre’s 24-hour number. Call for specialist advice about suspected exposure. For an immediate medical emergency, call 911 rather than delaying urgent care.
When safe to do so, have the product name or container information available for the professional assisting you. Keep medicines and chemicals in their original containers and out of children’s reach, as CCSS advises.
OIJ tips and formal crime reports are different
The OIJ explains that 800-8000-645 is a confidential, free information line. It should not be described as the standard route for obtaining a formal criminal complaint or an emergency response.
For a formal denuncia, contact the appropriate OIJ office and ask about the reporting process. Keep the report or case reference for follow-up and any insurance claim. If danger is immediate, call 911 first.
After a traffic collision
If anyone is injured or there is immediate danger, call 911. Contact the insurer and, for a rental vehicle, the rental company promptly.
“Never move the vehicles, not even a little” is not a correct universal rule. The INS minor-accident procedure includes documenting the incident and moving vehicles to a safe area. Its Pacto Amistoso procedure also has specific eligibility conditions and instructions.
Those procedures do not cover every collision. Ask the insurer and competent authorities what applies, particularly if there are injuries, disagreement or other complications. Do not assume every vehicle is insured by INS or that the same claims procedure applies to every policy.
Prepare before you need help
- Save your accommodation’s address and nearby landmarks.
- Keep emergency contacts available offline.
- Record your insurer’s assistance number and policy details.
- Know where to find essential medical information.
- For emergencies, call 911 first.
Contacts and guidance checked September 6, 2026 against the official Red Cross, CCSS, OIJ, INS and U.S. Embassy information linked here.
